Production Wraps In Video Blog #8 for ‘The Hobbit’

With production on both Hobbit films having come to an end — or did it?! — Peter Jackson has, wisely, made his latest video blog a chronicle of the final days behind those big 3D RED cameras. This piece was shown to members of the Comic-Con audience last Saturday, but don’t think this is all regurgitation (great regurgitation though it would already be); there’s also a bit of the director and his main cast in San Diego, with some “from the panel” footage being provided as his talk was being given.

Fans of Tolkien‘s book and The Lord of the Rings will undoubtedly get some real pleasure from all the little bits — be it sets, the surprise appearance of a few actors, about two seconds of complete footage, and the hints of some other big things. It’s all the better that this, like every prior video blog, doesn’t give away that much while it’s ahead, but simply promises the potentially great things that are to come. Given the great spirit of this thing — among other factors, such as decency — let’s hope Jackson doesn’t ruin the moment by spending too much extra time on the set next year.

“The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever… Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities… A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens on December 14th, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again will be released on December 13th, 2013.